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Police chief asks Parowan council to raise reserve-officer pay to $32 an hour to reduce costly overtime
Summary
Chief Adams asked the council to increase reserve-officer pay from about $22/hour to roughly $32/hour to encourage part-time coverage and reduce forced overtime that averages about $59/hour when overtime premiums apply.
Police Chief Adams told the council the department needs more reserve officers willing to pick up shifts to avoid paying costly overtime to full‑time staff. He said part‑time reserve officer pay is roughly $22 an hour now and proposed moving it to about $32 an hour so officers would be more likely to accept extra shifts.
Staff noted that overtime often costs the city substantially more — an average overtime cost of roughly $59 per hour when the time-and-a-half premium applies — and that increasing reserve pay could save money if it shifts coverage away from overtime. Chief Adams said the higher rate would be offered for coverage only when the city needs it, and council members asked clarifying questions about budget offsets and recruitment. The discussion remained a work‑session item; no formal action or vote occurred at the meeting.
